BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY
The Bulldog was first classified as such in the 1630s, although there were earlier mentions of similar types called “bandogs”, a term now reserved for a type of fighting dog. First used for bull-baiting, the Bulldog also fought its way through the dog pits, but after 1835 it began to evolve into the shorter-faced, stockier version we know today. It entered the show ring in 1860 and, in the years that followed, underwent a great change of personality. A delightfully ugly dog with a pugilist's expression that hides a loving, affectionate character toward family and friends. One of the oldest breeds, known as the National Dog of Great Britain and associated worldwide with British tradition and the legendary John Bull.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
Smooth-coated; thick-set, rather low in stature, broad, powerful and compact. Head massive, fairly large in proportion to size, but no point should be so much in excess of others as to destroy the general symmetry, make the dog appear deformed or interfere with its ability to move. The face is relatively short; the muzzle broad, blunt and inclined slightly upward, although not excessively so. Dogs showing breathing difficulties are highly undesirable. Body fairly short, well knit. Limbs stout, well muscled and in very good condition, with no tendency toward obesity. Hindquarters high and strong. Females are not as grand or as well developed as males.
BEHAVIOR / TEMPERAMENT
The Bulldog conveys an impression of determination, strength and activity. Alert, bold, loyal, dependable, courageous, fierce in appearance, but possessed of an affectionate nature.
HEAD
Viewed in profile, it appears very high and moderately short from the occiput to the nose. The forehead is flat, with the skin on and around the head slightly loose and finely wrinkled, without excess, neither prominent nor overhanging the face. The face, from the front of the cheekbones (zygomatic arches) to the nose, is relatively short. The skin may be slightly wrinkled. The distance from the inner corner of the eye (or from the center of the stop between the eyes) to the extreme tip of the nose should not be less than the distance from the tip of the nose to the edge of the underlip.
CRANIAL REGION
Skull: Relatively large in circumference. Viewed from the front, it appears high from the corner of the lower jaw to the occiput; also broad and square. A furrow extends from the “stop” to the middle of the skull, traceable to the apex of the head (occiput).
Stop: Defined
FACIAL REGION
Viewed from the front, the various parts of the face should be equally balanced on either side of an imaginary line down the center.
Nose: Nose and nostrils large, broad and black, never liver, red or brown. Nostrils large, wide and open, with a well-defined vertical straight line between them.
Muzzle: Short, broad, turned upward and very deep from the corner of the eye to the corner of the mouth.
The over-nose wrinkle, if present, whole or broken, must never adversely affect or obscure the eyes or nose. Pinched nostrils and heavy over-nose wrinkles are unacceptable and should be heavily penalized.
Lips: Thick, broad, pendulous and deep, completely covering the sides of the lower jaw, but joining the underlip in front. Teeth not visible.
Jaws / Teeth: Jaws broad, strong and square. The lower jaw projects in front of the upper jaw and turns moderately upward.
Jaws broad and square, with six small incisors set evenly between the canines, in a straight line. Canines well apart. Teeth large and strong, never visible when the mouth is closed. Viewed from the front, the lower jaw should be directly under and parallel to the upper jaw.
Cheeks: Well rounded and extending sideways beyond the eyes.
Eyes: Viewed from the front, set low in the skull, well away from the ears.
Eyes and stop in the same straight line, at right angles to the furrow. Well apart, but their outer corners within the outline of the cheeks. Round, of moderate size, neither deep-set nor prominent. Very dark in color, almost black, showing no white when looking directly forward. Free from obvious eye problems.
Ears: Set high, i.e. the front inner edge of each ear (viewed from the front) joins the outline of the skull at the top corner, so as to place the ears as wide apart, as high and as far from the eyes as possible. Small and thin.
The rose ear is correct, i.e. folding inward at the back, the upper or front inner edge curving outward and backward, showing part of the inside of the ear.
NECK
Of moderate length, thick, deep and strong. Well arched at the back, with some loose, thick, wrinkled skin at the throat, forming a slight dewlap on each side.
BODY
Topline: A slight fall to the back close behind the shoulders (its lowest part), from which the spine rises to the loin (higher than the top of the shoulders), then curving down again more suddenly to the tail, forming a slight arch, a distinctive feature of the breed.
Back: Short, strong, broad at the shoulders.
Chest: Wide, prominent and deep. Ribs well sprung behind. Chest round and deep, well let down between the forelegs.
Ribs not flat-sided, but well rounded.
Underline and belly: Belly tucked up and not pendulous.
TAIL
Set low, jutting out rather straight and then turning downward. Round, smooth, devoid of fringe or coarse hair. Of moderate length, rather short than long, thick at the root, tapering quickly to a fine point. Carried low (without a decided upward curve at the end), never carried above the back. Lack of tail, inverted or extremely tight tails are undesirable.
FOREQUARTERS
General appearance: Forelegs short in proportion to the hind legs, but not so short as to make the back look long or impair the dog's activity. Shoulders: broad, sloping and deep, very powerful and muscular, giving the appearance of being tacked onto the body.
Elbows: Low and standing well away from the ribs.
Forearms: Very stout and strong, well developed, set wide apart, thick, muscular and straight. Leg bones large and straight, neither bowed nor bent.
Pasterns: Short, straight and strong.
Feet: Straight and turning very slightly outward; of medium size and moderately round. Toes compact and thick, well split up, with high, prominent knuckles.
HINDQUARTERS
General appearance: Legs large and muscular, slightly longer in proportion than the forelegs. Legs long and muscular from loin to hock.
Stifles: Turned very slightly outward.
Hocks: Slightly bent, well let down.
Feet: Round and compact. Toes compact and thick, well split up, with high, prominent knuckles.
GAIT / MOVEMENT
Appearing to walk with short, quick steps on the tips of the toes. The hind feet are not lifted high, appearing to skim the ground. When the dog moves quickly, one or the other shoulder runs slightly forward. Sound movement is of the utmost importance.
COAT
Hair: Fine in texture, short, close and smooth (hard only from its shortness and closeness, not wiry).
COLOR
Whole or “smut” (i.e. a single color with a black mask or black muzzle). Only whole colors (which should be brilliant and pure): brindle, red in its various shades, fawn, light brown, etc.; white and pied (a combination of white with any of the above colors). Liver, black and black and tan are highly undesirable.
WEIGHT
Males: 25 kg.
Females: 23 kg.
FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
Aggressive or overly shy.
Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities shall be disqualified.
NOTES
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs with breed-typical conformation should be used for breeding.
